Therapeutic articulating apparatus



June 13, 1933. P. HENZE ET AL. 1,914,202

' THERAPEUTIC ARTICULATING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 11, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet l 7 Z H. INVENGIZLOR. 75 By uszf czj gfiillzgg I M21U% M ATTORNEYJ June 13, 1933. p HENZE ET AL 1,914,202

THERAPEUTIC ARTICULATING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 11. 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 P Z H INVENTg/R. 3 By staf g Gi/lZgrg fiwfiM/X m A TTORNEYS June 13, 1933.

P. HENZE ET AL THERAPEUTIC ARTICULA'I'ING APPARATU5.

Filed Oct. 11 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. a 25 6 172" Y y 1 1 :9 MW

ATTORNEYS Patented June 13, 1933 PAUL HENZE AND GUSTAF S.

PAT'EN OFFICE GTLLBEBG, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNORS TO IEICHEGAN THERAPEUTIC ARTICULA'I'ING APEARATUS Application filed October 11, 1929.

Our invention relates to improved therapeutic articulating apparatus adapted for use by physicians in hospitals, and for the general treatment of affected or diseased joints, ligaments, tendons and other portions of the human anatomy.

It is designed to accomplish in a particular manner and after a determined form manipulation and articulation of the af fected portions. It is so constructed that it may be connected to a suitable harness that engages the manipulable parts of the human body so as to work the same in a rhythmic fashion and in a predetermined manner as made necessary by the character of manipulation desired. The operating harness connections are in part adjustable and are yieldingly tensioned so that a determined force may be brought to bear in the manipulation of the affected part and a plurality of harness connections are provided which may be worzed in unison, all receiving power impulse from the same source of power.

It is an object of our invention to provide mechanism of this character wherein a determined and variable tension and stroke may be maintained and wherein the harness connection is tensioned through a variable determined swing of an operating member and wherein there is a pause in the rhythm of the tension connection preferably at a period of maximum tension and for a sufficient length of time to permit manual working of the affected part by an operator.

Another important feature of our inven tion resides in providing a combination of working parts so arranged that while one harness connection is actuated to maintain a tension in a given direction by manipulating an affected part, a second harness connection fastened to the same'part is tensioned in the opposite direction and during the time that the tension is being relieved on the first harness connecton. The affected part of the body is therefore manipulated in both directions by the harness connections which are power actuated so as to alternately come into play to effect the desired manipulation, and each harness con- Serial- No. 399,02'3.

nection is yieldingly tensioned so that when the resistance ofv the affected part is raised to lad determined point the connection will yie r The above objects and others will more fully appear from the following description of the preferred embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings and defined in the claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation partially in section, of the power actuating portion of our apparatus.

Fig. 2 is a plan view'of the structure shown in Fig. 1 showing a portion of the device broken away.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevation of the adjustable yielding connection.

Fig. 5 is a sectional View through one of the non-adjustable yielding connections.

Fig. 6 is a sectional View through the adjustable yielding connection.

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view through one of the stationary sleeves.

Fig. 8 is an elevation of the apparatus in working position.

In Fig. 8 we have shown our apparatus arranged in working relationship at opposite ends of a suitable table 20, the power driven machine 22 being positioned at one end and secured to a floor by a suitable clamp 24 and the cooperating mechanism 26 arranged at the opposite end and secured to the floor by a suitable clamp 28. Y

The machine indicated generally by the numeral 22 comprises a base frame 30 secured to the floor and being generally rectangular in shape and provided with three upright posts 32. A frame 34 is supported upon these corner posts for vertical adjustment by a screw 36 having a hand wheel 38, and this frame 34 carries an electric motor 40 having a shaft 42 suitably supported which carries a worm 44 that drives a camshaft 46 through a worm wheel 48 mounted within a suitable housing 49.

I A plurality of cams 50 of a contour hereinafter more particularly described are mounted upon this shaft to rotate therewith. Three cams are here shown. Three swinging rock levers 52, one for each cam, and each pivoted at one end to the frame as at 54, are provided with bearing rollers adapted to bear against the cam to take the thrust thereof. Each rock lever is held. by a spring 58 yieldingly toward cam. The cam actuates the rock lever positiveiy in one direction and the spring 58 actuates the rock lever toward the cam in the opposite direction.

A stop in the form or" a rod 60 extends transversely through the frame 3 1 and adjustable to limit the stroke of the rock levers. This rod 60 is here shown as provided at each end with knobs 62 and is movable into any one of a plurality of recesses 64 in a slot formed in the side wall of the frame 34 so that the rod may be adjusted to vary the stroke of the rock lever as moved by the spring 58.

Each rock lever has connected to its upper end a suitable harness fastener and this is shown as comprising a flexible tension member 66, such as a strap, which. has at its outer end a fitting 68 adapted to be secured to a manipulable portion. of the human body such as an arm or leg or even a linger, and the opposite end of this tension connection. 66 is secured by a suitable ratchet arrangement 70 to a pull rod plunger 72 which carries the ratchet coupling.

The opposite end of this pull rod 72 is provided with a head 7% which has a threaded shank 76 to which is secured one end of a spiral spring 78 the opposite end of which is threaded upon a threaded shank 80 of a cooperating head 82. Head M has a sleeve 84" which telescopes within a sleeve 86 carried by head 82. The head 82 has a bearing fork 88 which is secured by a pintle 90 to the upper end. of the rock lever 52.

The construction just described fits the two outer harness connections and provides yielding tension means connecting the end of the rock lever with a manipulable member of the body of a patient. Each outer harness yielding connection is supported within a sleeve 92 which is secured. at its opposite ends to the frame member and is rigid therewith and is slotted on its underside as at 94c to permit the passage of the upper end of the rock lever 2. This upper end of the rock lever is slotted to embrace the pintle 90.

The middle harness connection is of an adjustable character and comprises a yielding tension connection 166 held by ratchet mechanism 170 carried by a pull rod or plunger 172 which termii ates in a reduced threaded end portion 174; and is longitudinally slotted. as shown in dotted line in Fig. 6 at 176. A nut 178 is adjustably threaded upon the threaded end 174- and is provided with a tubular extension 180 which carries a hand Wheel 182 at its outer end by means of which the nut is adjustably rotated.

A spring 182 is threaded at one end inside the cooperating head 190 and at the opposite end upon the threaded shank of a head portion 184 which carries tube 186 telescopically coupled with a cooperating tube 1.88, carried by a cooperating head 190.

A spacer tube 191 engages at one end against the head 18% and at the opposite end agains the nut 17 8. This head portion 190 is provided with oppositely disposed trunnions 192 which engage a forked head 194% of the middle operating arm 152. The head portion 18% carries a set screw 196 which rides within the slot 17 6 to hold the parts against relative rotation during operation and adjustment.

When the machine is idle or no tension is being placed upon the tension connection 166, the structure takes the position shown in 6. The spring 182 holds the head portion 184 so that spacer tube 191 is held against nut 178 to exert a pull upon rod 172 and thereby upon the flexible tension element 166. When the machine is working a resistance is placed upon the tension connection 166 su'llicient to overcome the normal tension of the spring, and as the head 190 is moved to tension the connection 166 it is against the yielding resistance of the spring.

During the operation of the machine with the tension remaining on the connection 166, this spring resistance may be varied by adjusting the position of the nut on the thread ed end portion 174 or the rod 172 through rotation of. the hand wheel, and the hand wheel itself serves as a stop to limit the stroke by being brought into engagement with the end of the frame which length of stroke is varied by rotation of the hand wheel. There are also guide members 198 carried by the frame member which serve to guide the movement of the pintie 192 in its travel.

The cams 50 are so contoured that each rock lever is moved outwardly to its maximum extent to tension connection 66 and in such position the cam passes through a portion of its revolution without substanti ally affecting the position of the rock lever and during which there is a substantial pause in its movement. During this period an operator may manipulate the atl'ected portien oi the human body to which the harness is attached without the same being influenced by the power driven mechanism and this is feature of importance.

in addition a crank 100 is mounted upon the ainshaft 4:6 to be driven thereby and a flexible tension element 102 is connected therewith and extends to the auxiliary ar ticulating machine 26. This auxiliary inachine has a base 104; and suitable upright frame members 106 which support a bracket 108 to which is pivoted an arm 110. This arm is connected to the bracket by a pivot 112 and has a short arm 114 which is held by a spring 116 so that the arm 110 normally assumes the vertical position as shown in solid line in Fig. 8. The lower end of this arm is provided with a'sheave 118 over which tension connection 102 travels and this tension member then passes over a second sheave 120 carried by the bracket and extends over the table to be secured to the part 68 which is secured to the tension member 66 and is used to engage the affected portion of the body of the patient.

The tension connection 102 is actuated by the crank 100 so as to be tensioned in a direction opposite to that of the tension eX- erted on the connection 66 by the cam operated rock lever 52 and preferably during the time that the tension is being relieved on said rock lever and therefore accomplishes a reverse movement of the affected part. The arm 110 is held by a spring 116 to at all times take up any slack in the tension connection and also permit the yielding thereof in case of resistance offered by the .manipulable portion of the human body beyond a predetermined point.

This apparatus may be arranged in conjunction with a table as here shown or any other suitable rest for a patient and may be moved or adjusted to suit the needs of the particular occasion and for functioning to manipulate substantially all the affected portions of the body and different and more than one affected portion at the same time if such desired.

During the operation of the machine the force exerted to manipulate the aifected body member is at all times a yie-ding resilient force. It smoothly and without shock or jar incident to a rigid con nection. It variable and capable of bein regulated. It may be adjusted during the working of the machine. There is a pause in the rhythm of the working stroke to permit manual manipulation of the af footed member of the body. There is an auxiliary and reverse resilient power manipulated movement which comes into play during the mainworking stroke and as such tension being relieved.

It will be understooc. hat anyone or all. of the manipulating devices available in the improved mechanism may be utilized. There will be times when it becomes de sirable to exercise the muscles of each leg while at the same time flexing and kneading some other portion of the body. Under such circumstances the harn members attached to connections 66 would be utilized to manipulate the two legs of the patient while the connection 166 was fleX- ing, let us say, the shoulder muscles of the patient. The tension which the center connection 166 is adapted to transmitto the body of the patient may be adjusted by rothat which it is being flexed by the particular connection, 66 or 166, with which it is being utilized. Furthermore, it will be so sXQCl in an opposite direction during the period of release by the other connection, thereby producing a tremendously beneficial and effective flexing of the body portion.

We claim:

1. Therapeutic articulating apparatus comp ising, in combination, an electric motor, a cam connected therewith to be rotated thereby, a swinging rock lever having a part adapted to bear against the cam, yielding means constraining said'rock lever to hold said part tov-Jard said cam whereby the rock lover is actuated in one direction by the cam against tee tension of said means and in the opposite direction by said means holding the same toward the cam, a harness fastener connected with said rock lever, a stop adapted to engage the rock lever to limit the stroke tie-reef under influence of said yielding means and adjustable to different positions to vary the length of said. stroke.

2. Therapeutic articulating apparatus comprising, in con'ibination, an electric motor, a cam connected therewith to be continuously rotated thereby, a swinging harness operating member having a harness fastener carried thereby and supported to be swung in one direction by the cam to tension said harness fastener in a given direction, yielding means holding said operating member toward said cam, said am having such a contour that there is a pause in the swing of the operating member for substantial period of the revolution of the cam and while the operating member is approximately at the limit of its outward swing by the cam, a second harness operating member having a harness fastener can ried thereby and connected with the motor to be actuated thereoy to tension its harness fastener in a direction opposite to that of the first harness fastener and during the time the tension is being relieved on the first harness fastener.

3. Therapeutic articulating apparatus comprising, in combination, an electric motor, a cam connected therewith to be rotated thcreoy, an operating member carrying a harness fastener connected with the cam to be positively actuated thereby to tension said fastener in a given direction, yielding means connected with said operating member holding it toward said cam to relieve the tension on said harness fastener, a second operating member carrying a harness fastener and connecterfl with said motor to be actuated thereby to tension its harness fastener in the opposite direction to that of the first harness fastener and during the time the tension is being relieved on the first harness fastener.

4. Therapeutic articulating apparatus comprising, in combination, power mechanism, a harness operating member connected therewith be swung thereby in a given direction, a harness fastener secured to said member to be tensioned thereby in a given direction, means cooperating therewith to relieve the tension on said harness fastener, a second harness operating member connected with the power mechanism to l e actuated here by, a harness fastener secured said second operating member to be tensioned thereby in a direction opposite to that of the first harness fastener and during the time the tension is being relieved on the first harness fastener.

5. Therapeutic articulating apparatus comprising, in (elimination, a harne s opera ng mem ,er carrying harness f; :IIC'I. adapted to be alternately tensioned and relieved, a second operating member carrying a harness fastener adapted to be alternately tensioned and relieved and a single powered. means coupled with each of said harness actuating members and operable to tension the same in opposite directions.

6. Therapeutic articulating apparatus comprising, in combination, a power actuated harness operating member carrying a harness fastener adapted to be alternately tensioned and relieved, a second power actuated operating member carrying a harness fastener adapted to be alternately tensioned and relieved, said second harness fastener being tensioned in the direction opposite to that of the first harness fastener and during the time the first harness fastener is being relieved from its tension, and a single power means operatively coupled with each of said harness actuating members.

7. Therapeutic articulating apparatus comprising, in combination, a power actuated harness operating member carrying a harness fastener adapted to be alternately tensioned and relieved, a second power actuated operating member carrying a harness fastener adapted to be alternately tensioned and relieved, said second harness fastener being tensioned in the direction opposite to that of the first harness fastener and during the time the first harness fastener is being relieved from its tension and means cooperating with said second harness operating member and its harness fastener to relieve the tension on the fastener when the same is tensioned beyond a determined point, and a single means for alternately actuating said operating members.

8. Therapeutic articulating apparatus comprising, in combination, power means, a shaft rotatably driven thereby, a harness operating member connected with the shaft to be operated thereby and having a harness fastener adapted to be tensioned in a given direction by the operating member, a second harness operating member con nected with the shaft to be operated thereby and having a harness fastener adapt-ed to be tensioned in the opposite direction by its operating member during the time the tension is bein relieved on the first harness fastener, and a single means for alternately actuating said operating members.

9. Therapeutic articulating apparatus comprising, in combination, a power operated rocker arm, a harness yieldably secured to one extremity of said rocker arm, a second rocker arm located in opposed relation to said first rocker arm and operable by the same power means, and a second harness member yieldingly secured to one eX- tremity of said second rocker arm whereby tension is transmitted alternately by said harness members in opposite directions.

10. Therapeutic articulating apparatus comprising, in combination, a single power actuated member, oppositely disposed reciprocating members each driven by said power actuated element, and harness members yieldingly secured to each of said reciprocating elements whereby tension may be transmitted alternately in opposite directions to a body member located intermediate said reciprocating elements.

In testimony whereof, we, PAUL HENZE and GUsTAr S. GILLBERG, sign this specification.

PAUL HENZE. GUSlAF S. GILLBERG. 

